Log-trimming machine



June 4, 1929. w. T. RICH LOG TRIMMING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l June 4, 1929. RICH 1,715,949

LOG TRIMMING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 4, 1929. w. T. RICH 1,715,949

LOG TRIMMING MACHINE Filed June 16. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q &

t Q) I I I l I l I gwuento'o W fi CfI/ Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM '1. RICH, OF LUFKIN, TEXAS.

LOG-TRIMMING MACHINE.

Application'filed June 16,

This invention relates to machines for debarking or trimming logs or posts, and has more particular reference to a portable machine of this kind adapted to be manually moved along the log or post during the debarking or trimming operation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the above kind which is simple and durable in construction, eflicient in operation, and capable of ready use for expeditiously trimming logs while stationary or lying on the ground.

A further object is to provide a machine of the above kind embodying a rotary powerdriven cutter, means to guide and facilitate movement of the machine along the log, and means to adjust the cutter to vary the, depth of cut. I

Another object is to provide means for adjusting the cutter toward or from the log, and at different angles relative to theaxis of the log or the direction of travel of the machine, whereby logs of various sizes may be effectively trimmed.

Other objects will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, showing a machine embodying the present in vention in use upon a log.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine as shown in Figure 1, partly broken away and in section.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line 66 of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a transverse section of the rotary cutter.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the embodiment of the invention illustrated includes a main frame having front and rear uprights 5 and 6 rigidly connected at their upper ends by means of a longitudinal horizontal bar 7 and adjacent their lower ends 1928. Serial N0. 285,950.

by means of a horizontal ring 8. Rigid with the lower ends of the uprights are cross bars 9, each having a pair of supporting rollers 10 journaled on the under side thereof with their axes arranged transverse to the frame and in downwardl diverging laterally inclined relation. T e rollers 10 thus support the frame at the front and rear for free travel along the log to be debarked or trimmed, and due to the inclined position of the rollers, the machine is effectively guided along the log irrespective of its size.

A motor 11 is suspended in the frame by means of a vertical adjusting screw 12 attached at its lower end to the top of the motor casing and rotatably and slidably fitting in an opening in the intermediate portion of the bar or beam 7, a nut member 13 being threaded on the projecting upper end of the screw 12 and bearing on the beam 7. An antifrietion thrust bearing 14 is preferably provided between the beam 7 and the lower face of the nut 13 to permit the motor to be easily adjusted about its vertical axis which coincides with the axis of the screw 12, and to permit free rotation of the nut to vertically adjust the motor.

A circular frame 15 is fixed to the bottom or base of the motor casing and vertically slidable and rotatably fitted in the ban-like ring 8 to guide the motor in its vertical and turning adjustments. J ournaled on the under side of the frame 15 upon a transverse horizontal axis is a concavo-cylindrical cutter 16 whose shaft projects at one end and carries a pulley 17 Vertically alined with and operatively connected by a belt 18 with a pulley 19 on the drive shaft of the motor 11. The cutter 16 is preferably formed of frusto-conical end sections and an intermediate section, as shown, each section having longitudinal grooves 20 in which are secured cutting blades 21. The grooves 20 are of sufficient width and of such spiral form as to provide clearance for the material trimmed from the log and to feed such material laterally to automatically clear the cutter blades during the log trimming operation.

As the rollers 10 will seat differently on logs of different sizes, the motor is adjusted vertically to correspondingly adjust the cutter to suit the size of the log and the depth of cut desired. The turning adjustment of the motor results in positioning the cutter at various angles to the longitudinal axis of the log so that the same cutter may prop erly operate on logs of various sizes for rendering it unnecessary to change from one size of cutter to another.

Manually operable means is provided to angularly adjust the cutter by turning the motor about its vertical axis, and this means may consist of a horizontal gear segment 22 fixed to the rear side of the motor casing and meshing with a cage pinion 23 whose flanges engage opposite sides of the gear segment so that said" pinion is moved vertically with said segment when the motor is vertically adjusted. The pinion 23 is fixed on the lower portion of a vertical shaft 24 which is journaled and vertically slidable in bearings 25 carried by the rear upright 6. The shaft 24 slidably projects through the rear end of the beam 7 and has a handle 26 on its projecting upper end for use in manual turning thereof and for consequently adjusting the angularity of the cutter through the gearing described.

Current is supplied to the motor by means of a cable 27 in which is interposed a con trol switch '28 mounted on the front upright 5.

In use, the machine is placed on the log as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the nut 13 and handle 26 are turned to adjust the cutter into contact with and at the proper angle to the log for obtaining a full cut at the desired depth. The motor is then thrown into operation by closing the switch 28 so as to cause the cutter to be rapidly rotated for effectively debarking or trimming the adjacent portion of the circumference of the log as the machine is manually pushed along the latter. By partly turning the log and repeating this operation, the entire circumference of the log may be expeditiously debarked or trimmed while stationary or lying on the ground.

Minor changes maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a portable log debarking or trimming machine, a frame provided with supporting rollers to promote travel of and guide the same along the log, a power-driven concave cutter cylinder horizontally mounted in the frame in position to debark or trim the circumference of thelog as the machine is moved along the latter, said cutter cylinder being mounted on, a transverse axis, and means to angularly adjust said cutter cylinder relative to the line of travel of the machine.

2. In a portable log debarking or trimming machine, a frame provided with supporting rollers to promote travel of and guide the same along the log, a power-driven concave cutter cylinder horizontally mounted in the frame in position to debark or trim the circumference of the log as the machine is moved along the latter, said cutter cylinder being mounted on a transverse axis, means to angularly adjust said cutter cylinder relative to the line of travel of the ma chine, and means to vertically adjust said cutter cylinder.

3. In a portable log debarking or trimming machine, a frame provided with supporting rollers to promote travel of and guide the same along the log, and a powerdriven concave cutter cylinder horizontall mounted in the frame in position to debar or trim the circumference of the log as the machine is moved along the latter, said rollers being mounted in pairs at the front and rear of the frame, the rollers of each pair being oppositely laterally inclined and arranged in downwardly diverging relation.

4. In a portable log debarking or trimming machine, a frame provided with supporting rollers to promote travel of and guide the same along the log, a power-driven concave cutter cylinder horizontally mounted in the frame in position to debark or trim the circumference of the log as the machine is moved along the latter, a motor mounted in the frame and having the cutter cylinder operatively connected and journaled on the under side thereof upon a transverse axis, and means to rotarily adjust said motor about a vertical axis to angularly adjust said cutter cylinder.

5. In a portable log debarking or trim ming machine, a frame provided with supporting rollers to promote travel of and guide the same along the log, a power-driven concave cutter cylinder horizontall mounted in the frame in position to debarh or trim the circumference of the log as the machine is moved along the latter, said frame embodying a horizontal ring, a motor rotarily suspended in and vertically adjustable relative to the frame, a circular element attached to the bottom of the motor and vertically slidable and rotatably fitted in said ring, and means to rotatably adjust said motor, said cutter cylinder being journaled on the under side of said circular element and operativel connected to the motor.

6. In a portable log debarking or trimmin machine, a frame provided with supporting rollers to promote travel of and guide the same along the log, a. power-driven concave" cutter cylinder horizontall mounted in the frame in position todebar or trim the circumference of the log as the machine is moved along the latter, said frame embodyin a horizontal rin a motor rotarily suspen ed in and vertica 1y adjustable relative to the frame, a circular element attached to the bottom of the motor and vertically slidable and rotatably fitted in said ring, means to rotatably adjust said motor, their lower ends by said ring, and cross bars said cutter cylinder being journaled on the carried by the lower ends of said uprights under side of said circular element and operand having said rollers journaled on the 1 atively connected to the motor, said frame under sides thereof in downwardly diverging 5 further embodying front and rear uprights pairs.

having a motor-suspending beam connecting In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. the upper ends thereof and connected near \VILLIAM T. RICH. 

